Tampa Birth Injury Lawyers Serving Greater Tampa, FL

At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, our Tampa birth injury lawyers are committed to helping families whose children have suffered birth injuries in Tampa fight for compensation. When doctors and hospitals make mistakes that lead to birth defects and other injuries, they deserve to be held fully accountable. We are committed to doing what it takes to fight for our clients, and if you hire us to take your case, our childbirth injury attorneys will fight to recover the compensation that you deserve.

When you check into the hospital for labor, you expect to receive professional, expert medical assistance for delivering your child. You are placing the responsibility of protecting your child in your doctor’s hands, and you are entitled to expect that he or she will deliver your baby with the utmost attention to you and your baby’s needs. This is not just us talking, this is Florida law. In Florida, the law entitles all patients to receive medical treatment that meets or exceeds the relevant standard of care.

While certain birth injuries can result from biological factors, there are numerous instances in which a childbirth injury can be directly attributed to a healthcare professional’s failure to meet this standard of care. This failure constitutes medical malpractice – a form of negligence that too often leads to irreversible harm.

At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we have handled hundreds of birth injury cases. We are experienced in investigating medical malpractice, and we know what it takes to hold hospitals and medical professionals accountable for their mistakes. The consequences of a medical mistake can last a lifetime. If you suspect that your child’s birth injury may be the result of medical malpractice, we urge you to contact us for help today.

Common Forms of Medical Malpractice Leading to Birth Injuries

As we mentioned above, there are numerous medical errors that can lead to birth injuries. These errors can occur during pregnancy or childbirth, and can range from failure to order necessary tests to making mistakes during the delivery process.

Some of the most common forms of medical malpractice that can lead to birth injuries include:

Delayed cesarean sections (C-sections)

Failure to administer specialized tests during pregnancy

Failure to communicate patient conditions to the appropriate hospital personnel

Of course, this is just a short list of examples. Providing appropriate medical care during pregnancy and childbirth requires specialized knowledge and extensive experience. It is precisely for this reason that hospitals and medical professionals are held to such high standards – and why families are entitled to seek fair compensation when their care leads to life-changing injuries.

Common Birth Injuries Resulting from Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice-related birth injuries can range from bone fractures, which may heal over time, to severe medical conditions that can have potentially fatal consequences. Ten of the most common injuries are:

Brachial Plexus Injuries – Common brachial plexus injuries include Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy. These injuries frequently result from shoulder dystocia during childbirth, which is often a result of medical malpractice.

Bone Fractures – The most common bone fracture during childbirth is a fractured clavicle (collar bone). Fractures can occur when delivering physicians pull too hard on the infant and make other mistakes.

Cephalohematoma – Cephalohematoma involves bleeding in the brain beneath the cranium which often is first discovered when a lump appears on top of the newborn’s head. Cephalohematoma can lead to jaundice, anemia, hypotension, and other potentially dangerous medical conditions.

Caput Succedaneum – Caput succedaneum is most commonly caused by improper vacuum extraction during delivery. The most common symptom of caput succedaneum is severe swelling of the newborn’s scalp.

Perinatal Asphyxia – Perinatal asphyxia is a condition that results when there is inadequate oxygen flow to an infant’s brain. This can occur during pregnancy, during childbirth, or even after delivery. Perinatal asphyxia can lead to problems with the circulatory, digestive, and respiratory systems, as well as other severe consequences.

Intracranial Hemorrhage – An intracranial hemorrhage is an injury that results in bleeding inside of the skull. In severe cases, intracranial hemorrhaging can lead to permanent brain damage.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage – A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a ruptured blood vessel under the surface of the eye. It is commonly the result of trauma during the delivery process caused by medical negligence.

Facial Paralysis – If too much pressure is placed on the infant’s face during delivery, this can damage the facial nerves and lead to paralysis. Use of forceps and vacuum extraction are common causes, though other medical errors can lead to facial paralysis during childbirth as well.

Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis, can result from delivery errors as well as failure to diagnose a fetus’s spina bifida during pregnancy. Use of forceps and vacuum extractors can often significantly increase the risk of a birth-related spinal cord injury.

Cerebral Palsy – Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries during brain development, which may occur before, during, or after childbirth. Severe cerebral palsy can have life-changing, and potentially life-threatening, consequences.

If you are thinking that there is no such thing as “just” compensation when a medical mistake causes a life-changing birth injury, frankly, you are right. Children who are permanently injured due to medical malpractice may never get to live the life they deserved. This is an unspeakable tragedy, and one for which no amount of money can truly serve as “just” compensation.

But, money is the best that our legal system has to offer; and, by filing a claim for compensation, (i) you may have access to the funds you need to care for your child as he or she grows, and (ii) hold the responsible party accountable for its actions. In birth injury lawsuits, parents will often be able to recover compensation for:

Past medical expenses

Future medical expenses

Pain and suffering

Counseling expenses

Physical therapy expenses

Vehicle and home modifications

In-home care

Loss of income

Loss of consortium

Loss of companionship

Loss of enjoyment of life

If your child suffered a birth-related injury, it is critical that you seek legal and medical assistance. You also need to be very careful when dealing with the insurance companies. There are steps that you will need to take in order to protect your rights and allow for calculation of your total losses, and you do not want to say or do anything that could harm your chances of pursuing a successful claim.

About Abrahamson & Uiterwyk

Abrahamson & Uiterwyk is a Tampa, FL law firm with 10+ attorneys who focus their practices exclusively in the area of injury compensation. For more than 25 years, our attorneys and staff have been helping victims and their families. Our Tampa birth injury attorneys have represented more than 15,000 clients in Tampa and throughout Florida, and have helped them seek the compensation through thorough case preparation, strategic settlement negotiations, and aggressive representation at trial.

At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we offer free initial consultations, and we do not charge any legal fees or costs unless we win compensation. As a result, it costs you nothing to sit down with one of our injury attorneys to learn more about your rights. If your child suffered a birth injury and you believe that medical malpractice may be to blame, we encourage you to contact us 24/7 so that we can help you begin the recovery process.

Schedule a Free, No-Obligation at Our Law Offices in Tampa, FL

If you are considering a birth injury claim, it is important that you speak with our Tampa birth injury attorneys as soon as possible. The amount of time that you have to file a birth injury claim is limited, and if you wait you, could jeopardize your ability to secure financial compensation. To sit down with one of our experienced Tampa birth injury lawyers in a free, one-on-one consultation, call us at (800) 753-5203, start a Live Chat, or send us a message online today.

Kelly

Kelly Anne KellyClient Services Manager

As a Client Services Manager, Kelly’s focus is to enhance client satisfaction by continuously looking for ways to fulfill clients’ needs and concerns.

se habla espanol

What Our Clients Say *

"He answered all my questions and made me feel completely at ease. When I called, my questions were answered immediately. I never had to wait for a call back."

Rating:

-Lisa , Tarpon Springs

"My settlement was nearly twice the amount I anticipated and I would highly recommend his firm to anyone in need."

Rating:

-Bruce, Sarasota

"I want you to know how prompt and helpful the Attorney, paralegal and all of your staff have been since being assigned to my case. Everyone has been extremely compassionate and understanding and have kept me informed of all the progress and or changes. We have settled this claim with great results . . . I would most definitely recommend Abrahamson & Uiterwyk."

Rating:

-Jason Mauldin, Clearwater

"He settled our case for more than I thought I would ever get."

Rating:

-Gerald, Palm Harbor

"I was extremely satisfied with the results I received from Abrahamson & Uiterwyk .... I have recommended them to others without hesitation."

Rating:

-Marietta, Spring Hill

"He answered all my questions and made me feel completely at ease. When I called, my questions were answered immediately. I never had to wait for a call back."

Rating:

-Lance , Palm Harbor

"They kept me so well informed week after week."

Rating:

-Amelia, Citrus Springs

"It is rare that you come across the professionalism that the team of Abrahamson & Uiterwyk has demonstrated, while still having compassion for what the client experiences with injuries and medical treatments."

Rating:

-Jennifer, Palm Harbor

"My family had A-1 service from beginning to end"

Rating:

-Gail, Tampa

"They have been very diligent in contacting me by phone or mail about the progress of the case, answering my questions and concerns."

Rating:

-John, Lutz

FEATURED CASE RESULTS

$34,697,465:

(Jury Verdict) Product Liability in Escambia Co.

$20,000,000:

ATV Accident in Pasco Co. (Awarded following a default judgment by the Court; entire judgment not collected; see entire case summary for more details.)

$11,100,000:

(Jury Verdict) Motorcycle Accident in Brevard Co.

$6,100,000:

(Jury Verdict) Product Liability in Hernando Co.

$6,100,000:

Pedestrian Accident in Collier Co.

$5,050,000:

Motorcycle Accident / Wrongful Death in Hillsborough Co.

$5,000,000

Motorcycle Accident / Wrongful Death in Pasco

Obviously, not all of our case results are listed. The case results provided are before the deduction of attorney’s fees and expenses. It should not be assumed that each case will have as beneficial a result. Most cases result in a lower recovery (based upon various issues such as limited insurance, extent of injuries, etc.)

* WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY: Obviously, not all of our case results are listed. The case results provided are before the deduction of attorney’s fees and expenses. It should not be assumed that each case will have as beneficial a result. Most cases result in a lower recovery (based upon various issues such as limited insurance, extent of injuries, etc.)